News

Man's body discovered in back of van, second man found with possible self-inflicted wounds

By Tracy Manzer, Staff Writer

Posted:
11/05/2012 06:11:39 AM PST

Updated:
11/05/2012 03:36:44 PM PST

The death was reported at 4 p.m. Sunday in the 2700 block of East Madison Street, Deputy Mark Pope of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau said.
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Man's body found in van involved in crash: Los Angeles County Sheriff's detectives continued Monday with an investigation into the discovery of a body found in a van along with the driver, who was slitting his wrists when deputies intervened.

The incident was reported at about 4 p.m. Sunday in the 2700 block of East Madison Street, located near Santa Fe Avenue and Carson Street and the Carson/Long Beach border.

Sheriff's Deputy Mark Pope said the victim, who has not been identified, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was discovered after Sheriff's deputies assigned to the Carson Station were called to the area following a minor crash, when the van sideswiped a vehicle, Pope said.

Witnesses found the blue and white van nearby on Madison Street, and notified the authorities.

The victim appeared to have been strangled, Pope said. The driver of the van was also still in the vehicle and trying to kill himself, Pope said.

"The driver inside the vehicle was actively attempting to commit suicide by slicing his wrists," Pope said.

The deputies were able to stop the driver and he was rushed to a local hospital. He was expected to survive, Pope said.

His name was also withheld late Monday and authorities said it was not yet known if he would face criminal charges, noting that such cases often require a mental evaluation.